Russian Beauty: 2a Novel

A bestseller in its author's native Russia, this splendid first novel is remarkable for its unflinching, even exuberant exploration of topics once con sid ered taboo in the Soviet Union. The bawdy, exaggerated but always sophisticated plot is narrated in irrepressible fashion by Irina Tarakanova, a young bisexual beauty from the provinces who comes to Moscow. Through a series of affairs with diplomats, journalists and bureaucrats, she sleeps her way into high society, finally becoming the mistress of a Party-liner named Vladimir Sergeyevich. Many years her elder, Vladimir dies during rough sex with Irina, who later discovers she is pregnant. Now shunned by her well-placed friends, Irina adopts religion, is raped by Vladimir's ghost, has a sexual encounter with Mother Earth and finally accedes to the ghost's proposal of marriage. The supercharged narrative flashes back and forth in time, the tone becoming increasingly high-pitched, at times approaching the surreal, as Irina's emotions careen out of control. Providing genuine humor and covering a dizzying range of concerns--from the Russian ``soul'' to American vs. Russian pornography--this virtuoso effort reflects Erofeyev's justifiable confidence in his talents. (Apr.)